Racks for commercial refrigeration systems



Oct. 4, 1960 5. J. SWEYNOR 2,954,877

RACKS FOR COMMERCIAL REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS Filed March 13, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 N r mg 4 I X 6 P INVENTOR.

"1 I STANLEY J. SWEYNOR r AL nR m H: .n

H l I M p w". 1 J

ATTORNEYb Oct. 4, 1960 5. J. SWEYNOR 2,954,877

' RACKS FOR COMMERCIAL REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS Filed March 13, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 u lll INVENTOR \\\\\173 7 4 STANLEY J. SWEYNOR 1 22 BY film'wg 2M4:

ATTORNEYS A Oct. 4, 1960 S. J. SWEYNOR RACKS FOR COMMERCIAL REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS Filed March 13, 1957 .1 .1 Mil 6 INVENTOR. STAN LEY J. SWEYNO R j y r i J BY WM ATTORNEY6 RACKS FOR CGMlWERCIAL REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS Stanley J. Sweynor, 2222 Alberta St., Portland, Oreg.

Filed Mar. 13, 1957, Ser. No. 645,697

1 "Claim. (Cl. 21'1175) This invention relates to racks and more particularly to racks adapted for mounting and supporting refrigeration systems used in commercial refrigeration.

The prior art constructions, previous to my development of this newv and improved rack for supporting the component parts of refrigeration systems, required considerable expense in assembling the refrigeration components for each installation, which had to be individually installed within available floor space and even wall space for supporting the complete refrigeration components, ineluding the wiring, switchboard controls, etc. This required considerable space and labor in making installations of refrigeration systems.

In our modern day, the conserving of space is a very important item, also the saving of time and labor in installation and servicing the refrigeration systems. No uniform method of installation has been adopted and the use of concrete blocks, wood supports, steel frames and the like are conventional, all being assembled on the job. In my new and improved rack for supporting the component parts of the refrigeration system, the system is completely designed at the point of origin or at the factory.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a structure for supporting refrigeration units which will make it easy to erect the refrigeration system on location. These racks are designed to support all of the component parts of the refrigeration system, including the electric switchboard panels.

Another object of the invention is to provide racks that can be mounted one above the other, or end to end, for increasing the refrigeration output on any installation.

A still further object of this invention is to design a rack' for holding the component parts of refrigeration systems so that all parts of the system can be easily reached by the srevice man in the installation, as well as the servicing of the system. Special switchboard panels are mounted to the rack in such manner that they can be easily detached and moved aside while assembling, disassembling or servicing the refrigeration components by disconnecting a limited amount of electrical connections.

A further object of this new and improved rack is to accommodate various sizes of refrigeration systems by simple adjustments forming part of the rack assembly. When making installations the electric circuits and panels are already assembled on the rack at the pointof origin, thereby saving considerable space, time and expense in installing the refrigeration system on location.

Another outstanding object of the invention is the provision of a structure having an improved safety factor created by providing a rack to which all refrigeration ice of space on location a simple mechanical fitting forming part of the rack is utilized.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in the light of the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the invention illustrating two racks in full lines, one mounted upon the other, with parts illustrated in broken line for convenience of illustration.

Figure 2 is an end elevation.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation showing the refrigerating units in broken lines.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the rack and electric control panel, taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3, looking in the direction indicated.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken on the line 66 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the structure shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 9, looking in the direc tion indicated.

Figure 9 is a perspective front view of a pair of racks, in exploded relation.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary elevational view of a slightly modified rack structure.

Figure 11 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line :1212 of Figure 10, looking in the direction indicated.

Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken on the line 13l3 of Figure 12, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 14 is an enlarged fragmentary taken on the line 14-14 of Figure 3, direction indicated.

In the drawings, Figures 1 through 9, and Figure 14, illustrate one form of the invention wherein two sections of racks are illustrated, each section supporting a complete refrigeration unit, including its electrical switchboard for operating the same.

Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13 illustrate a modified form of the invention adapted to support and hold two complete refrigeration units, and their individual control panels.

I will first describe the structure of the preferred form of the invention which consists of two complete racks, generally indicated at A and B, one mounted upon the other and adapted to hold two complete condensing units, including their component parts. While I have shown two racks A and B, there can be any number of racks A and B mounted one upon the other, or end to end, or back to back. Each of the racks A and B consists of four vertical angle legs 26, connected together at their upper ends by rectangular angle bars 21, by welding or the like. Slightly above their lower ends they are connected together by rectangular angle framework 22, by welding.

Referring particularly to Figure 5, the lower ends of the legs 20 have angle shaped feet 23 forming part thereof. The upper ends of the legs 20 have angle bases 24 fixedly secured thereon, by welding within the corners of the rectangular frame 21. When mounting the racks A and B one above the other, the feet 23 of the superimposed rack A or B rest on the bases 24 and have a cap screw 25 passed down through the feet 23 into the base plates 24 and threaded into the nut 26 welded to sectional view, looking in the ,man can easily mount or dismount the racks A and B one from the other and the entire assembly will be held securely in position. 1 One or more racks can be suspended from the ceiling of the room in which they are installed by threading eye bolts shown in dotted lines at 25 into the nut 26, as illustrated in Figure 5. In this type of installation, much floor space can be conserved for other purposes, still providing a complete assembled refrigeration system as: sociated together with my new and improved supporting racks, including the electrical equipment. This new and improved rack structure also permits the mounting of the racks within recesses formed in wall structures, completely taking them out of the surrounding area in the room.

Movably mounted upon the lower rectangular framework 22 of the racks A and B are bases 27, consisting of spaced rails 28 to support a condensing unit 29, as indicated by the broken lines in Figures 1, 2 and 6. The rails 28 are spaced apart at their ends by transverse bars 30, preferably welded to the rails 28, thus providing a slot 31 running lengthwise of the base 27.

Transverse movable bases 32 are slidably mounted on the horizontal legs 33 of the angle bars 28, referring particularly to Figures 6 and 7. The bases 32 are'locked in any desired location by the bolts 34 passing through the slots 31 between the rails 28.. Extending upwardly and forming part of the movable bases 32 are stud bolts 35. Surrounding the stud bolts 35 are coil springs 36. The springs 36 support the base 37 on a motor compressor 29. The tension of the spring 36 being adjusted by the adjusting nut 38, provides a resilient mounting for the motor compressor unit 29.

The framework of the rectangular frame 22 consists of angle bars 22, and upon these angle bars 22, as

stated above, are adjustably. mounted the bases 27 in the following manner. U-shaped clamps 39 are adapted to have one of their ends 40 bearing against the underside of the angle 22' and their opposite ends 41 bearing against the underside of the bases 27. A bolt 42 passes through the transverse bar 30, through theclamp 39 and is locked in place by the nut 43, referring particularly to Figures 6 and 7. This arrangement makes it easy to move the bases 27 along the angle bar 22 to the desired position for supporting the motor compressor unit 29 to be supported thereby.

Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 14, the condensing coils 44 of the unit are mounted'upon angle brackets 45 by their bases 46. The angle brackets 45 are adjustably supported upon the upright brackets 47, which are secured to the rectangular framework 22, or to the angle legs 20 by bolts 45 engaged in one of the holes 48, depending upon the size and type of the condensing coils 44. Brackets 45 may also extend outwardly from the rack oppositely of Figure 14 for supporting cooling fans and the like associated with some types of condensing units.

One of the component parts of the condensing unit is I the receiver tank 49, referring to Figures 1, 2 and 8. Bases 50 are fixedly secured to the rectangular frame 22 by any suitable means, such as welding. The bases 50 preferably consist of an L-shaped angle 51. Notches 52 are formed inthe upper leg of the angles 51 to receive the U-clamps 53. By using notches 52 instead of holes for receiving the U-clamps 53, a much quicker and easier installation of the tank 49 is obtained due to the fact that the nuts need only be loosened and the U- shaped clamp 53 slipped into the notches 52 and tightened down.

One of the outstanding features of this new and improved rack assembly is the manner in which the electrical control panels P and P are mounted to the rack. The panels P and P consist of a panel board 55, which has threaded studs 56 extending from its rear face 0 l in Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13.

four vertical angle legs 61 are secured together at their enter the holes 57 within theframework of the racks. Nuts 58 are applied to the studs 56 holding the panels P and P' to the rack structure. Control boxes 59 are mounted-to the panels 55 at the factory before reaching the site of location.

Hangers 60 are supported within the rack structure and support panels P and P while shipping the rack to its destination, or while servicing the condensing units, or while servicing the units, the panels P and P may be shifted to oneside as illustrated in Figure 1, the stud bolts 56 supporting the panels P and P in this position while servicing the machine, or the panels P and P' may be just seta'side, the electrical connectors being of such length to permit the movement of the same so that the condensing unit and its component parts can be serviced without disassembling any of the electric control boxes or units 59. Figure 4 illustrates how the panels are mounted to the framework of the rack.

By this method of installing or removing the motor compressor into or out of the rack, there need be no lifting of the moto'r compressor over the stud bolts 35, making it much easier to handle the motor compressor in this operation. Next in the installation of the ,component parts, as for instance the condensing coils 44, the hanger brackets 45 are positioned tothe desirable upright brackets 47, depending upon the design of condenser, and held by the bolts 45', referring particularly to Figures 3 and 14.

i The receiver tank 49 may be installedor removed easily from the rack by simply loosening or tightening the nuts 54 of the U-claimps 53 and sliding the clamps 53 into or out of the notches 52 of the base 50, forming part of the rack. On assembling the component parts within the rack on the job, the control panels P and P are removed from the supporting hangers 60, referring particularly to Figures 9, 1 and 4, and mounted to the upper frame 21 and to the lower frame 22 by the stud bolts 56 entering the holes 57, after which the wing nuts 58 are applied thereto. These panels are usually put in place after all other component parts have been assembled within the'rack.

The dual pressure control, a component part of the I condensing unit, as Well as other controls are mounted upon the bracket 74.. A cross bracket 75 is also provided for supporting sight glass, shut ofi valves, and other component parts,,not here shown. A bracket 76 supports a dehydrator, not here shown. A shelf 77 is provided for supporting other component parts of the condensing unit. In fact all of the componentparts of the condenser have a special place within the rack for mounting thesame.

I will now describe the modified formof rack illustrated In this form of rack,

upper ends by their rectangular frame 62 and at their lower ends by the rectangular framework 63, with all of the connections being made by welding. In this design of rack, the bases 64, which come with the condensing units are employed. The bases 64 also support-the re ceiver tank 49, and they also support the condensing coils 65 by the brackets 66, therefore in this design of rack, movable horizontal bases or guide members 67 are mounted to the lower rectangular framework 63 by L- shaped clamps 68 and the stud bolts 69, which are fixedly secured to the underside of the bases 67, referring particularly to Figures 12 and 13.

condensing unit. Slots 72 are provided in the bases 67 for making forward and rearward adjustment of the base 67 and its component parts.

. In this modification, the rack has the panels P and P mounted to the upper front corners of the rack, as best illustrated in Figure 10 when the machine is assembled.

In Figure 10, 1 illustrate the panelP removed from its operating position and suspended on a supporting hook 73 forming part of the framework 6'2. This moves the panel P' out of the way so that the condensing unit can be serviced and all its component parts without being obstructed by the panels P and P, the panels P and P only being moved a short distance, thereby the electrical connections can still be maintained.

The panels P and P may be shipped to their point of destination within the rack in this position.

In servicing the machines, the panels P and P would not have to be hung on these supports as they could be set aside in many instances. With this type of rack additional units would be placed end to end instead of superimposed on one another, due to the fact that one of the machine condensing units is placed on top of the rack. L

As can be readily understood, the outstanding feature of my new and improved racks for condensing units is that all of the component parts are located on special brackets and fittings within the rack, including all of the electrical controls so that on arrival on the site of installation, the condenser and the component parts can be readily slipped into place within the rack, making the installation complete with a minimum amount of space and time of installation. When the machines have to be serviced, it is a simple matter to reach all component parts by simply moving the electrical panel boards a slight distance in order to make it easy for the service man to reach the component parts of the condensing units, and in no way having to disconnect wiring from switch panels and the like.

The electric circuits and electric control panels and the rack are assembled at the factory and when reaching the point of location, standard condensing units of any make or capacity can be readily installed Within the rack in a minimum amount of time and cost requiring a minimum amount of expense for installing, which is very desirable.

Having thus described thepreferred embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A rack for commercial refrigeration components comprising a pair of vertically spaced individual rectangular frames, a vertical leg rigidly secured to each corner of each frame maintaining said frames in spaced relation, a plurality of guide members on the lower of said frames, a plurality of refrigeration components supports mounted for sliding movement on said guide members, a vertically mounted support panel detachably secured to the uppermost of said frames for supporting refrigeration control components thereon, and hook means secured to said uppermost of said frames for supporting said support panel when detached from said flame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

